Within-day drinking water consumption patterns: results from a drinking water consumption survey

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Human Nutrition
• Toxicology

Background:

• Current drinking water intake data is insufficient for estimating exposure to contaminants with acute, short-term effects.
• Accurate exposure assessments require detailed information on the timing and quantity of water consumed throughout the day.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a nationwide survey to gather detailed data on daily drinking water consumption patterns.
• To provide data supporting the estimation of short-term (less than 24 hours) dietary exposure to contaminants in drinking water.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide water consumption survey conducted in two seasonal waves.
• Utilized 7-day water consumption diaries to record amounts and timing of intake.
• Collected data on total daily consumption, frequency of drinking occasions, and intervals between consumption.

Main Results:

• Drinking water consumption patterns exhibit greater variation between individuals than within individuals.
• Significant associations found between consumption patterns and participant demographics (age, sex, region).
• Mean consumption per occasion was 8-10 oz, with 0-19 occasions per day reported.

Conclusions:

• This survey provides unique, detailed within-day drinking water consumption data for a representative US sample.
• The findings are essential for developing more accurate, short-term exposure estimates for drinking water contaminants.
• The data supports improved risk assessments for waterborne contaminants with acute effects.